By By Adrienne McKenzie
Two people were given the Citizen of the Year Award at the 61st Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet Monday night.
Earl Bryant and his wife Marilyn were named Atmore's 2006 Citizens of the Year.
The Chamber began this award presentation in 1978. There is a committee that consists of the Chamber president, immediate past president, one past Citizen of the Year and two selected individuals. This committee comes together each year to look over the applications that have been submitted. Applicants whom are qualified must be citizens that have made contributions to the community throughout the previous year.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were shocked to learn that they had been awarded the 2006 Citizens of the Year award.
"I am shocked but excited and pleased," Earl Bryant said. "Too many more people deserved this award."
"This is unbelievable," Marilyn Bryant said. "We do appreciate it but I just don't know what to say. You do what you do without thinking about things like this."
When Mr. and Mrs. Bryant came to Atmore they instantly became active in their children's school, sports, church and the community.
Mr. Bryant is an ordained deacon at his church, where he also serves on many committees, a Gideon, he has coached baseball, where he has "not only taught the game but also sportsmanship" and he takes a stand for his Christian beliefs. When Atmore was decorating for the holidays, Mr. Bryant made sure that the buildings downtown were lit at no cost to the city or chamber.
Mrs. Bryant is a founder of the Atmore Christian Care Ministry. She has served on several committees and has taught Sunday school at her church. She most recently ensured that the yellow ribbons were always on display for the members of our National Guard while they were serving our country oversees.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bryant supervise the Samaritan Gift Program through their church. This program is in charge of assisting people that are passing through the Atmore area that may need gas, food, somewhere to spend the night or a bus ticket.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have two sons, Jeff who lives in N.C. and Scott who lives in Ore. They are also the proud grandparents to six-month-old Marlie, Jeff and his wife's child.
Emilie Mims, Executive Director of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce was pleased about the award winners.
"Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are the type of couple that work very silently in the community," Mims said. "They are involved in several ministries and are very involved in helping down and out people."
Mims said that Mr. Bryant has committed a lot of his time to the community and to the Chamber.
"This award was for the years of service this couple has blessed the community with," Mims said.
"Atmore is a great place to live," Mr. Bryant said. "We are very pleased to accept this award."